The Collide Podcast

Between shopping lists, holiday parties, and endless to-do's, it's easy to miss the beauty of the season. In this heartfelt solo episode, Collide founder Willow Weston shares some of her family's favorite Christmas traditions and how simple, intentional moments can help you slow down, deepen your faith, and create lasting memories with the people you love. Whether you grew up with meaningful traditions or are starting from scratch, you'll leave inspired to make this Christmas one your family will remember for years to come.

This week, Collide founder Willow Weston takes the mic for a special solo episode celebrating the beauty of Advent, Christmas traditions, and creating meaningful moments with the people you love. Drawing from her own story—from growing up without many holiday traditions to intentionally building faith-filled rhythms with her own family—Willow offers practical ideas and heartfelt encouragement to help you experience the joy of Emmanuel, God with us, this Christmas season.

• Why meaningful traditions can strengthen your family's faith and relationships.
• How to create Christmas traditions—even if you didn't grow up with them.
• Simple Advent ideas that help keep Jesus at the center of the holiday season.
• Creative ways to serve others together as a family during Christmas.
• Why your most treasured holiday memories often come from intentional moments, not expensive gifts.
• How inviting others into your celebrations can reflect the heart of Christ.

Christmas doesn't have to be perfect to be meaningful. Whether your family is large or small, thriving or hurting, God can use intentional traditions to cultivate connection, generosity, gratitude, and faith. Willow reminds us that some of the most life-changing moments happen around ordinary tables, simple acts of kindness, and traditions rooted in the love of Jesus.

Hop on the pod today and get great tips on how to save during the Holiday Season. Angela Davis is the boss lady and Founder of Frugal Living NW. She is a genius when it comes to finding deals, making every penny count, setting budgets and helping people find financial freedom! This funny, wise, straight shooter will share all her expertise so that you can have a joyful holiday without breaking the bank!

Grief and loss are an inevitable, impactful part of life that has many layers and many lessons packed within. Cassie Merritt is a wife, mom to two beautiful girls, and a lifestyle photographer. Cassie has experienced the deep pain of losing her mother to cancer and in this episode, we talk about the profound impact that loss has had on her life and how she found hope and strength in the midst of grief.

For a decade Laurie Bunnell worked as a home stager and then made a major career move by going back to school to study early childhood education. She is now the lead Director of a Preschool and spends most of her days investing in kids. In this episode we get to learn from Laurie’s personal and professional experience about how to better connect with, love and come alongside kids.

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What happens when vision, family, and faith collide with business?

In this inspiring episode of the Collide Podcast, we sit down with Wes Herman and Kelly Spiker, the father-daughter team behind the beloved Pacific Northwest coffee brand, Woods Coffee. Known for its welcoming spaces, quality coffee, and deep local roots, Woods Coffee is more than just a business—it’s a legacy built on faith, family, and bold vision.

Wes and Kelly share the incredible story of how Woods Coffee came to life, what it’s like to grow a business as a family, and the leadership principles that have shaped their journey. Whether you're an entrepreneur, a leader, or just someone who loves a great story of faith and grit, this episode will stir your heart and your dreams.

Wes is the CEO and founder of Woods Coffee, and Kelly serves as the company’s President. Together, they’ve helped grow a regional coffee chain known not just for its drinks, but for its commitment to people, excellence, and mission. Their story is a testimony of what’s possible when business becomes a platform for impact and legacy.

• How Woods Coffee started with a family dream and became a regional staple
• The highs and lows of working alongside family in business
• What legacy leadership looks like in a fast-moving culture
• Practical wisdom on entrepreneurship, vision, and risk
• How faith has guided their decisions and shaped their company culture

If you’ve ever felt a stirring to build something bigger than yourself—something lasting—this episode is for you. Wes and Kelly remind us that success is not just about growth, but about impact, purpose, and the people we build alongside.

☕ Whether you're sipping coffee in one of their cozy cafés or dreaming up your own next big thing, you’ll walk away from this conversation energized, encouraged, and full of fresh perspective.

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Learn More About Woods Coffee

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Is it really possible to experience peace when fear is knocking at your door?

In this powerful episode of the Collide Podcast, we sit down with Kip McCormick to talk about finding peace in the midst of chaos and anxiety. Kip shares about his transition from a 28-year military career into pastoral ministry and how faith grounded him through life’s most high-pressure moments. Offering insights on spiritual grounding, courage, and Biblical wisdom, Kip invites listeners into a conversation about how to actually embody the peace we’re called to live in. Whether you’re navigating anxiety, searching for calm in the storm, or needing a reminder that you’re not alone, this episode will remind you that true peace is possible through Christ.

Kip is a pastor, former Army colonel, and PhD in Biblical Studies. He served for 28 years in the military as an intelligence officer and Foreign Area Officer and also taught at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Kip is passionate about equipping and encouraging others through God’s Word. His story is a powerful example of how faith can anchor us even in life’s most turbulent seasons.

• How to stay grounded in faith when fear and anxiety creep in
• Why Biblical truth can be a practical tool in mental and emotional struggles
• What it looks like to transition careers with purpose and clarity
• How God can use military and life experiences to shape a calling to ministry
• The importance of spiritual leadership in seasons of uncertainty

If you’ve ever battled anxiety or felt overwhelmed by chaos, this episode will offer hope, tools, and wisdom for regaining peace. You’ll be reminded that even when life feels out of control, God’s presence is steady, grounding, and real.

Check Out These Collide Resources Inspired by This Episode

• Collide Counseling Bundle - This online course tackles the 12 most common issues women face in counseling, offering practical tools, expert advice, and encouragement from licensed mental health professionals. The course also includes a beautifully designed printed workbook (mailed to your door) filled with exercises, reflection space, and helpful resources to guide your healing journey.
• 5 Week Guide to Manage Your Anxiety – Get expert advice from counselors, plus guided exercises, reflections, and tools to help you find peace and trust in the midst of anxiety.
• All the Best – Connect with Jesus and find peace through guided reflections on Mary and Martha’s story, helping you overcome distraction, worry, and comparison.

Connect with Willow - Website | Instagram | Facebook

Follow and Support Collide 

🌐 Visit our website for upcoming conferences, helpful resources, and encouragement for women pursuing healing, purpose, and deeper faith.

📲 Follow along on Facebook and Instagram

🛍️ Shop for good at the Collide Store

🎁 Partner with us to impact lives with your financial gift

📬 Subscribe to our Newsletter and be the first to hear about new episodes, blog posts, events, and resources and more!

Brie Ahrenholz has always been passionate about kids, and she followed that passion right into becoming a teacher.  Her gifting has been obvious as people who have experienced her as their kids' teacher rave about her with all 5 star reviews. Brie has a huge passion to see the uniqueness in each child and to see them thrive into who they were created to be. In this episode, Willow chats with Brie about life, faith, pursuing your dreams and calling, overcoming struggles and the unique way in which she sees kids and is used by God to bless them. We know her story and perspective will impact yours.

Julie Clarke is a wife and mother and former owner of Organized at Last. With a passion for organization and people, Julie has spent the last few decades helping families organize their homes to create a peaceful respite and a sense of calm in the home by eliminating clutter. As a person living with Type 1 Diabetes she recognizes what a gift each day is and strives to make meaningful connections with people, through hosting regular family dinners, daily walks with her husband of 37 years and finding intentional ways to bless others. In this episode, we talk with Julie about all things clutter, chaos, organization, peace, family and intentions.

Young adults have so much to navigate, from relationships, to big decisions about career and calling, to schoolwork, and complex questions about faith. No one knows more about these deep doubts and questions young adults struggle through than Josh Lease, who works directly with college-aged people in a young adults ministry in the Pacific Northwest. In this episode, Josh gives practical wisdom and insight into walking alongside people in their faith deconstruction and reconstruction, encouraging young adults in their truest identity (not just their future job title), and developing kids to become their best selves.

How do you hold on to faith when grief threatens to unravel everything?

In this honest episode of the Collide Podcast, we sit down with Nicki Lang, writer, artist, and deep feeler, to talk about the intersection of grief, creativity, and faith. Nicki shares vulnerably about the losses she’s endured and the brave work of making meaning through words and art. From wrestling with God in sorrow to finding ways to stay connected to those we’ve lost, Nicki offers a beautiful and raw invitation to live more fully—even when life breaks your heart. Whether you’re grieving, creating, or questioning, this episode will remind you that you’re not alone in the wrestle.

Nicki is the writer behind the blog Everybody Dies: Thoughs on Being Alive, where she explores grief, beauty, and faith with honesty and heart. She’s also an incredible painter, craftswoman, and creative with many identities—daughter, sister, orphan, wife, mother, neighbor, banjo player, cook, ecologist, and more. Nicki is passionate about embracing the full experience of being human and creating things that help others do the same. Her story is a moving testament to love, loss, and the healing power of expression.

• How to be brave with your creativity, even when it feels vulnerable
• What it means to wrestle with God through deep loss
• Ways to stay connected to those who have passed
• Why expressing grief can lead to deeper healing

If you’ve ever lost someone you love or struggled to make peace with the pain, this episode will meet you with compassion and hope. You’ll be reminded that grief is not the opposite of faith—and that creating, feeling, and wrestling are sacred acts of being fully alive.

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Check Out These Resources Inspired by This Episode

• Go Ahead - Empowers women to step into their days expecting to experience the extraordinary and Divine in everyday moments.
• Big Magic
• It's Okay to Not Be Okay
• Faith After Doubt

Connect with Nicki - Website

Follow Willow: Website | Instagram | Facebook

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